Rotary engine.



PATENTED DEG. 5, 1905.

J. M. LLLSWORTH.`

` ROTARY ENGINE;

i .mrrnroumn FILED un, '1905.

'l SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTBD DEG. 5, 1905.

'l SHEBTS*SHEBT 2.4

/A/VENTOH No.:so6,124. 'PATENTBD DB0. 5,1905. J. M. BLLSWURTH.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 11.13.24, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED 1320-5, 1905. y

vJ. M. BLLswoRIH. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIOATION PILED HAL, 1905.

7 SHEETS-aunar@ f J. M. BLLS'WORTH.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED 34413.24, 19.05.

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PATENTE-D DEG. 5, 1905.

'l SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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'i5 purview of my invention.

35 Supply pipes, and the valve-chests.

UNITE-,n sTATS;

rkrnnr critici-1.

ROTARY Specification of Letters Patent.

ENGINE.

' Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

Appunti@ ineanmh 24, 1905. semi No. 251,840.

To a/ZZ wiz/ont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHNV MAGEE ELLs- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State-of New-- f that by a change in the manner`of operating' lthe apparatus it maybe employed as a pump or compressor, either use, being within the In its preferred embodiment my improved apparatus comprises one or more circular cyliinders, in which operate pistons intended to move continuously through the circular cylin'der or cylinders around a common axis. These pistons areconnected with the rotating element of the motor from which its' power is takem'and coacting with thecircular cylinders are peculiar means for controlling 'the steam 'z5 supply and distribution. e Reference is toY be had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate as examples two forms in which my invention may be' practically embodied, inwhichdrawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in theV several views, and in whichj Figure 1 is an end elevation of the motor,

showing the periphery of the rotary part of the same, the circular cylinders, the steam- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an irregular section on essentially the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is an enlarged plan View showing the exhaust-port, abutment, and valve of one of the cylinders, this view illustrating thevalve and abutment chests with their covers removed to-expose the interior parts. Fig.

5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, partly showing one of the steam-valves and its operating device. Fig. 6 is a section on the line6 6 of Fig. 1, showing one of the abutments and its operating means. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a View showing one of the pistons 'and illustratv50. ing in section the circular rib by which the same iscarried and part of the rotating plate or wheel of the motor. Fig.` 9 is a top view of the piston, showing it attached to its circular or annular rib; and Fig. 10 is: a view corresponding to Fig. 3, showinga slightly-modi.- 5 5 "ed form of the invention. Referring' first toA Figs. 1 tov 9, the engine is` mounted' on a frame composed of pedestals 15, having boxes 16 at their upper ends, in which is fastened rigidly a shaft A17,. On this shaft is revolubly mounted the hub 18 of the rotor of the motor, which comprises in addition to the hub1 a disk-like plate or web 19 and a rim 20. The parts 18, 1'9, and 2O in the form illus-- trated constitute a wheel, and Athis may, if desired, be utilized as a bandwheel fromv whichto take the power of the motor, or the rotor may beprovided with any desired means for transmitting its motive power. Fastened to the' web 19 of the rotor by tie-bolts or any otherdesired means are annular ribs 21. As here shown, these ribs are three in number, and they are arranged concentric to each other and to the. axis around which the rotor revolves. 22 at their outer edges, and attached to they outer edge 'of each rib is a piston 23. The pistons 23 are provided with suitable pack'- ing-rings'23l and are fastened in place by tiebolts 24, which preferably pass through the pistons, ribs *21, and web 19, as shown best in Figs. '8 and 9. Therefore the annular or circular ribs 21 and their attached pistons 23 turn with and form virtually a part of the rotor of the engine. -85 Secured on the shaft 17 alongside of the hub 18 of the rotor is a collar 25. From this collar rigid v spider-arms 26 project, as shown best in Fig. 1. These spider-arms 26 form part of theframe ofthe engine, andl they carry the vcircular or annular cylinders 27. As here shown, there are threeof these.l cylinders,'on e,for each of the ribs 21 and pistons 23,- Said Acylinders are formed of two sections ii'anged and bolted together, as shown 95 best in Fig. 3, and one section of each cylinder is provided with a block'or enlargement 27, which blocks or enlargements engage the spider-arms 26. H 28a (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3) indicate tie-bolts which pass through the spider arms and through the enlargement 27, thus rigidly'fas'.- tening the cylinders 27 tothe arms 26; Said cylinders are concentric to the. center of revolution of the rotor, and each cylinder is provided with annular iianges 28. (hown best 'in Fig.'3. These flanges'l are 'spaced from @wh other .and extend. ,saimiouslr m9111191 lhe ribs are formed with T-heads 75 l Ioo the rotor.

the eng-ine, forming the equivalents of a stuffing-box. Coacting with said flanges are annular iianges 29, T-shaped in cross-section and bolted or otherwise secured to theiianges 28, forming equivalents of glands. In the annular spaces between the pairs of flanges 28 and 29 the annular ribs 2l are loosely received, a steam-tight connection being made between the flanges 28 and ribs 21 by means of packing at each side of the ribs between the iianges, as the drawings illustrate. The cylinders 27 are also formed with annular grooves 30, and in these grooves the T-heads 22 of the annular ribs 21 are loosely received. This forms an essentially steam-tight joint,

vand at the same time it allows for the running movement of the ribs 2l between the parts 28 and 29 with minimum friction between the engaging surfaces. The pistons 23 t snugly within their respective cylinders, and, as shown best in Fig. 9, the pistons are formed on arcs of the circles of their respective ribs 21, so as'to permit effective engagement between the pistons and the cylinderwalls and allow for the free movement of the pistons continuously through the cylinders.

As shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, the steam or other motive-Huid main 31 has a branch 32 for each cylinder 27 33 indicates globevalves commanding said branches 32. The branches of the motive-fiuid-supply main 31 pass, respectively, to valve-chests 34, which are carried one by each of the cylinders 27.

As shown best in Figs. 4, 5, and 7 the valvechests 34 each carry a slide-valve 35, these valves controlling the steam movement through ports 36 into the cylinders 27 Said valves are engaged by rocker-arms 37, attached to rock-shafts 38. The shafts 38 extend through the side walls of the valvechests 34, stuiiing-boxes 39 being provided to effect steam-tight connection.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the various rockshafts 38 extend radially inward toward the center of the motor and are provided at their inner ends with arms 40. These arms are adapted to be engaged by arc-shaped cams 41, attached to and turning with the hub 18 of Springs 42 are connected with the rock-shafts 38 by means of arms 43, as shown. Said springs tend to throw the valves 35 in one direction, (according to the Apresent embodiment to throw the valves into open posirtion,) and the ngers 40 and cams 41 act to throw the valves in the opposite direction, (in the present instance to closed position.) It is ciear, therefore, that by properly proportioning the cams 41 said cams may be made to move to normally throw the slide-valves 35 to closed position, thus cutting off the steamsupply at any desired point.

as said piston clears the port the cam 41 should be arranged to ride from under the corresponding finger 40, permitting the corresponding spring 42 to open the slide-valve 35, so that steam then passes into the cylinder. The entering steam acts by impact until the cam 41 strikes the finger 40, whereupon the sliding valve is closed and the expansive action of the steam begins.

Adjacent to each valve-chest 34 is an abutment-chest 44, these chests 44 being attached to or mounted on the cylinders 27, as shown best in Fig. 1. In each chest 44 is arranged an abutment 45,and these abutments are adapted to slide through ways 46, across the repective cylinders 27, so as to form a wall against which the pressure of the motive Huid may be exerted during the time that said fluid is acting to drive the piston. The abutments 45 of each cylinder are normally held in the active positions indicated by full lines in Fig. 6 and broken lines in Fig. 7, and they are periodically moved out of the cylinders, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 7, so as to allow the pistons 23 to pass the abutments at the end of the power-stroke of each piston. According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated for the purpose of so operating the abutments 45 I provide iingers 47, engaging between rollers 48, suitably mounted on the abutments. Said ingers 47 are located between the abutment-chests 44 and are attached to rock-shafts 49. The rock-shafts 49 pass through the side walls of the chests 44, stuffing-boxes 50 being provided, if desired, to make a steam-tight connection, and said rockshaits extend inwardly toward the center of the engine, as shown in Fig. l. Each of the three rock-shafts 49 is provided with an arm 50, and these arms are adapted to be struck by tappets 51, attached to and rotating with the hub 18. The shafts 49 are actuated by springs 52, connected with the shafts by short arms 53. Said springs tend to hold the abutments in their inward or active position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 6 and broken lines in Fig. 7, and the tappets or cams 51 serve periodically to move the abutments outward, the cams or tappets being so placed to bring about the outward movement of the abutments the instant that the corresponding pistons approach the abutments.

54 indicates the exhaust-ports from the cylinders 27. These ports are located directly adjacent to the abutments 45 at the sides opposite the steam-ports 36. The exhaust-ports 54, as shown in Figs. 1 to 9, are arranged to discharge directly into the atmosphere. It is obvious, however, that devices of any desired sort may be employed to conduct the exhauststeam or other fluid away from the engine. The abutments 45 are provided with suitable packing-strips 55, adapted to engage the T- heads 22 of the annular ribs 21, so asto ef- IOO IIO

feetsteam-tight connection with .these parts.'

when the abutments 'are in their inward or activeposition. r t 'S InV the operationjof theengine steam or 5 other motive'iluid is l admitted tothevalve' lvalves 35 and inentering thecylinderor cyl-` A I 'inders 27 will act onthe pistonsf23 to impart movement-to-,the'rotor of the S'engine.. Upon the beginning of this movementthe automatic, l

operation of the valves and abutments begins andthe actionofthe engine-'becomes normal,

I lI -the steam acti'ngon thev vpiston continuously;

throughoutthe rotation of the lmotor,except-`4 zing; forthe smalla'rc 'between the exhaust-iy -port*landi-rrletqoort36.f f It will thus be seen; nthat-the impulsejfimpared-by the piston` is; zo .practically continuous, Aandy iti willy therefore:

fpansive faction vof 1 the 'steam from this` p'oint onto the exhaust.: Y It lis also pointed out thati 40'y pipes 33LILA lead `from the exhausteports 54:, be-g i fore described'. Fastened .tof the web 19 ofi .ther'otor is anin'closiug wallsfwhio'h' is her- ,metically joinedto the web 'and passes outlwardand thence-inward, where it is connected;k -with the shaftl by ka,'stuilfingLboX1.5,7.--z Thisj .wall56 turns with the rotorof theen'gineand,

arrangement forms a steam-tight inclosure:

i' for; the cylinders, so :that-'ifi'theimotiyeffluidiA `Should leak I'past the?.flanges-28itr'willbe.reiy `strained within theiinclosure' andeve'ntually 55-f will equalize' vwith the/pressurefin the cy1in ders. Upon this equalization-off pressures f leakage willfbe stopped` anda saving lin fthe motiveiiuid thus attained.: t The lmoditedar'-y rangement' is alsouseful in case vthetinvention 6ev is usedas a pump or, comp'resiSOl;v lat-i ,which time ithesp'ace inclosedfbyrthe wall A56fand the- "web '19 c'ouldibei lilledfwitha cooling-.f luid, so f as .to reducefthe tem-peratureiaround the i cylindersrdu'eto the compressiongtherein; I ni "the cylinder yto force the heads 22a outward, :causing rthe heads :to seat rmlyandprevent-V -said cyl ders.` y .f

The combination of an annular'cylinder -f ribf attached thereto, a-,piston attached. tothe lthe vconstru'iction shown'inl Fig. lOthe heads' 65 Y22 of the ribs21 areshownwith bevelededges instead of the. square edges illustrated'in the other figures of the drawings. This construction-allows the steam or other pressure Within ing leakage at this point.

Hav-ing thus described the preferred form of myfinvention, what I claimas new, and desire j to secure by vLetters Patent,is`v o 75.

A '1. Then combination ofa central shaft, a

Y rotor mounted thereon, a plurality of concentric'annular ribs attached tothe rotor, a piston attached to each rib,annular cylinders having openings extending throughout v the same, in

z which openings said ribs are loosely-fitted, the

pistons working withinY the cylinders, means I for mounting the;v cylinders, andfmeans for .cohtrollingifluid movement inthe cylinders." be apparent thatbyr regulating the'ifor m'-and o l-2.f.-;Thefcombination of a central shaft, a l

rotormounted thereon, a plurality of concentric' annular ribs attached to -the rotor, a piston attachedtoeach. rib, annular cylinders having .openings "extending throughout the same. in

which openings said ribs areloosely `fitted, the

-pistons working lwithin the cylinders, means fonrnountingfthe cylinders, means for conr trolling' iu'id movementin the cylinders, and i means:v for packing they .connection between'- 4theribsandthecylinders. -f

3. The combination of a stationary-shaftiorjsupport, aA yrotor mounted thereon, an annular IOO packing the'Y connection between the rib and cylinder,- an arm rigidly mounted on'. the said shaft and fastened-to the cylinder. to supportI theesame and .means for controlling`v iiuid ,movement within'thecylinder. y

`7 `4.' -'lhecombination of a rotor,"a plurality 'i -ofapistons in. connection therewith, a plurality o peningoextending throughout the ib fitting loosely in the opening in fthe-cy, 41nd-er,"a piston/attachedto the rib and f I2C ling iuidmovement to and from thel cylinder, f i 4and means for forming' aliuidtight inclosure H "fOr said parts. f. f

working in 'thecylindeig means for. `control- =,".`6.4-The combination of4 a rotor, an annular i' ri b,an annular cylinder having'an opening extending around the same, 4the rib. being loosely received in. the opening and the piston operating Within the cylinder, means controlling fluid movement to and from the cylinder, and a hood attached to the rotor and forming with the rotor a Huid-tight inclosure for .the cylinder.

7. The combination of a central shaft having admission and exhaust passages therein, a rotor arranged to turn around the shaft, an annular rib attached to the rotor at one side, a piston carried by said rib, an annular cylinder having an opening extending around the same, said opening loosely receiving the said rib and the piston operating within the cylinder, means controlling fluid movement to and from the cylinder, said means communicating respectively With the admission and exhaust passages of the shaft, and a hood attached to the side of the rotor having said rib, the hood inclosing the cylinder and including the shaft to form a fluid-tight inclosure for the cylinder.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a rotating disk or Wheel mounted thereon, an annular rib attached to the side of the disk and disposed concentrically to the center of rotation thereof, a pistonattached to said disk, an annular cylinder having an opening extending around the same into which opening said rib is loosely fitted,'the piston Working in the cylinder, packing acting between the cylinder and rib, and means for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive agent.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a rotating disk or Wheel mounted thereon, an annular rib attached to the side of the disk and disposed concentrically to the center of rotation thereof, a piston attached to said disk, an annular cylinder having an opening extending around the same into which opening said rib is loosely tted, the piston Working in the cylinder, packing'acting between the cylinder and rib, means for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive agent, said means comprising an abutment movable in and out of the cylinder, the cylinder having admission and exhaust ports respectively at the sides of the abutment, a valve controlling the admission-port, and devices for operating the valve and abutment in unison with the movement of the piston.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a rotating disk or Wheel mounted thereon, a plurality of annular ribs attached to the side of the disk and disposed concentrically to the center of rotation thereof, a piston,

attached to each rib, annular cylinders having openings extending continuously around them in which openings the ribs are respectively fitted, the pistons operating respectively in the cylinders, and independently operative means for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive agent to the several cylinders.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a rotatable disk or wheel mounted thereon, an annular rib engaging the side of the disk and disposed concentrically to the axis of the center of rotation thereof, a piston engaging the outer edge of the rib, a tie-bolt extending through the piston-rib and disk to hold said parts rigidly connected, an annular cylinder having an opening extending continuously around the same in which opening the rib is loosely fitted, the pistonworking in the cylinder, means for mounting the cylinder, and means for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive agent.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a rotating disk or wheel mounted thereon, an annular rib attached to the side of the disk, a piston attached to the outer edge of the rib, an annular cylinder having an opening extending continuously around the same, in which opening the rib is loosely received, the piston operating in the cylinder, and means for controlling the movement of the motive agent in the cylinder, the said means including an abutment movable in and out'of the cylinder, and the abutment having a packingstrip at its inner edge, said packing-strip being arranged to engage with the edge of the rib which runs in the cylinder. y

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a stationary shaft, a rotating disk or wheel mounted thereon, an annular rib attached to the side of the disk concentrically to the center of rotation thereof, a piston attached to the disk, an annular cylinder having an opening extending continuously around the same into which opening the rib is loosely received, the piston Working Within the cylinder, an abutment arranged to move in and out ofthe cylinder, an arm engaging the abutment to move the same, a rock-shaft on which the arm is mounted, the rock-shaft extending radially of the disk,l a cam moving with the disk and adapted periodically to actuate the rock-shaft, the cylinder having admission and exhaust ports respectively at the sides of the abutment, a valve controlling the admission-port, a rocker engaged with the valve, a shaft carrying the rocker, said shaft extending radially of the disk, and a second cam moving with the disk and adapted to operate the last-named shaft.

14. In arotary engine, the combination of a shaft, means for` rigidly mounting the same, a rotating disk or Wheel mounted on the shaft, a plurality of annular ribs attached to the side of the disk concentrically to the shaft, a plurality of annular cylinders having openings extending around the same in which openings the ribs are respectively fitted, a piston attached to each rib, the pistons operating in the cylinders, a spider attached to the shaft andsustaining the cylinders, an abutment arranged to move in and out of each cylinder, means for operating the abutment, the cylin- IOO IIO

der having admission and exhaust portson i vIn testimony whereofvlhave signed my name opposite sides of the abutment, va valve-chest to this specification inthe presence of two subsurrounding each admission-port, a motiveseribing witnesses fluid 'connectionleading to each `valve-chest, JOHN IELLSWORTH.' 5 a' valve in each valve-chest coaoting-with the Witnesses: v s

adnission-port, and meansforoperatings'aid s DAW-D UPDIKE,

valves."`

ISAAC B;- OWENS.- 

